Construction toy with remote control

ABSTRACT

A construction toy with a wireless transmitter (TX) having at least two channels and a receiver unit (RX). In the receiver unit is an integral first functionality unit (MS), eg a position servomotor, and at least one further external functionality unit (M), eg a motor, can be coupled to the receiver unit (RX) and operated thereby.

[0001] This invention relates to a construction toy comprising awireless remote control with transmitter and receiver. With theconstruction toy it is possible to build various structures, such as atoy vehicle in accordance with the wishes of the user, and thestructures thus constructed can be remote-controlled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Construction building sets are available for buildingremote-controlled structures, wherein the user is to assemble variousbasic elements and functionality blocks featuring each theirfunctionality. Thus, in a remote-controlled toy there may be a receiverfor receiving wireless remote-control signals, a control unit emittingcontrol signals to a number of functionality units, and a power supply,eg in the form of a battery. In particular for new users it may be acomplex and time-consuming task to assemble th individual elements andthe work associated therewith may be confusing.

[0003] Also ready-configured, remote-controlled toys are available,wherein the toy contains a receiver for one or more independentchannels, a control unit and all functionality elements that receivecontrol signals from the control unit. Most often, suchremote-controlled toys are suitable only for one specific purpose and donot provide the user with any degree of freedom when it comes toexpressing his imagination; rather they are limited to one signal orvery few and closely related uses.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a construction toythat is not limited to one single or a few uses, but can rather be usedfor many purposes and that thus provides the user with a high degree offlexibility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This object is achieved with a construction toy in accordancewith the invention, wherein one single receiver unit contains a receiverfor wireless signals a control unit and a first functionality unit infixed connection to the control unit, and wherein a second functionalityunit which is external in relation to the receiver unit can selectivelybe connected to the receiver unit, thereby enabling it to receivecorresponding control signals from the control unit.

[0006] Hereby it is ensured that the first functionality unit operatesas intended, since erroneous mounting is not an option. This is ofimportance, in particular to young users and new users who willimmediately experience success, in particular when using theconstruction toy with only one remote-controlled functionality, as itsability to function is readily ensured. Moreover, the construction toyaccording to the invention also presents challenges to more experiencedusers who are themselves able to connect one or more functionality unitsin a configuration designed to his own wishes.

[0007] The first functionality unit is preferably a position servomotor.A position servomotor can be used for operating a steering linkage in atoy vehicle or elevator aileron or rudder in a model plane, but aposition servomotor can also be used in other constructions where aspecific angular position is desired within specific limits. One exampleof this is a toy figure, in which the head, an arm or a leg is to bemoved.

[0008] The second functionality unit is preferably one or moreelectrical motors that can be used for operating a toy vehicle, butfunctionality units are also perceivable that have other functions, suchas light and sound or activation of further functions, tc.

[0009] Preferably the construction toy comprises interconnectablebuilding elements with coupling means in the form of protruding studsand corresponding cavities for receiving coupling studs on otherbuilding elements or other coupling means known from toy building setsmarketed under trademarks LEGO® or DUPLO®.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic flow chart of the essential elements of theinvention in a preferred embodiment; and

[0011]FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment with interconnectablebuilding elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012]FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a remote-controlled construction toywith a remote-control unit or transmitter TX and a receiver unit RX. Thetransmitter TX is a conventional two-channel transmitter with twooperating means FR and LR. When these operating means are activated thetransmitter TX emits two independent radio-frequency, remote-controlsignals in correspondence with the user's operation of the operatingmeans. Alternatively, it is an option to use infrared signals or otherwireless signals, such as sound signals, in particular ultrasoundsignals.

[0013] The receiver unit RX has a receiver with an antenna for receivingthe remote-control signals from the transmitter TX and a power supplyunit that supplies electrical energy to all units in the receiver unitRX. The receiver process s the signals thus received, eg bydown-conversion, and transmits the processed signals to a control unit.In the control unit the received signals are detected and controlsignals S_(FR) and S_(LR) are generated in correspondence with theactual positions of the operating means FR and LR to a motor M and aservomotor MS, respectively. The motor M is external in relation to thereceiver unit RX and receives the control signal S_(FR) via a cord. Themotor M rotates continuously with a speed of rotation that depends onthe magnitude of the control signal S_(FR), thereby enabling the motor Mto drive eg a toy vehicle at a speed that can be regulated by theoperating means FR on the transmitter TX. The servomotor MS adjusts theangular position of its output shaft in response to the control signalS_(LR), such that the servomotor MS can operate eg a steering linkage ona toy vehicle, thereby imparting to the leading wheels a turning thatcan be regulated by the operating means LR on the transmitter TX. Theservomotor MS is shown with a shaft that can either be the rotor shaftof the servomotor that protrudes from the housing of the servomotor, orit can be an external extension shaft introduced into an apertureintended therefore and is thus operated by the servomotor.Correspondingly applies to the motor M.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention,wherein the elements of the invention are integral with interconnectabletoy building elements having coupling means in the form of protrudingcoupling studs on the top faces of the building elements andcorresponding coupling cavities on the bottom faces for receivingcoupling studs on other building elements. Such building elements areknown from toy building sets marketed under trademarks LEGO® or DUPLO®and are described in detail in eg U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,282, referencebeing made to that. As outlined in FIG. 2 the receiver unit RX and themotor M can be combined to form an assembly by means of one or more ofthe prior art building elements BE, whereby the assembled structure iseg a toy vehicle, wherein the motor operates one or more wheels. In thesame manner the transmitter TX can, if desired, be interconnected withone or more of the known building elements BE.

[0015] Interconnection of the receiver unit RX and the motor M may alsobe accomplished by means of other coupling means than the coupling studsand coupling cavities described above. The construction toy can thuscomprise particular building elements that are constructed in particularfor assembly of two or more building elements and enable eg mutualrotation of interconnected elements. One example of such assemblyelement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,116.

[0016] The motor M is provided with electrical energy from the receiverunit RX. To this end, specialised building elements can be used, thecoupling studs and coupling cavities of which have metallic contactfaces with electrical connection to eg a lead wire. In the same mannerboth the receiver unit RX and the motor M have their electricalterminals on such metallic contact faces on coupling studs or incoupling cavities. Upon interconnection by means of such buildingelements an electrical connection is immediately formed without the useof separate wires.

[0017] The particular building elements mentioned herein forinterconnection are known from toy building sets sold under thetrademark LEGO TECHNIC®.

1. A construction toy of interconnectable building elements andcomprising a transmitter (TX) with at least two independent channels andan operating means (FR, LR) for each channel, wherein the transmitter(TX) is configured for emitting, in response to the operating means (FR,LR), wireless remote control signals for each of the independentchannels; a receiver configured for receiving the wireless remotecontrol signals from the transmitter (TX); a control unit configured foremitting, in response to received remote-control signals, independentcontrol signals (S_(LR), S_(FR)) for each channel; a first and a secondfunctionality unit (MS, M) associated to a respective one of theindependent channels, wherein each functionality unit (MS, M) isconfigured for receiving corresponding control signals (S_(LR), S_(FR))from the control unit and performing a function corresponding to areceived control signal, characterised in that the construction toycomprises a receiver unit (RX), wherein the receiver, the control unitand the first functionality unit (MS) are integral with the receiverunit (RX); and that the second functionality unit (M) is external inrelation to the receiver unit (RX) and can selectively be connected tothe receiver unit (RX), such that the second functionality unit (M) isable to receive corresponding control signals from the control unit. 2.A construction toy according to claim 1, characterised in that thereceiver unit (RX) and the second functionality unit (M) have couplingmeans by which they can selectively be interconnected and separated. 3.A construction toy according to claim 2, characterised in that the firstfunctionality unit is a position servomotor (MS) with an output shaft,whose angular position is controlled in response to the correspondingoperating means (LR).
 4. A construction toy according to claims 2-3,characterised in that the second functionality unit is a motor (M) withan output shaft, whose speed of rotation is controlled in response tothe corresponding operating means (FR).
 5. A construction toy accordingto claims 2-4, characterised in that the second functionality unitcomprises two or more motors (M) with each their output shaft, the speedof rotation of which is controlled in response to correspondingoperating means (FR).
 6. A construction toy according to claims 2-5,characterised in comprising interconnectable building elements (BE) forthe construction of a toy vehicle with controllable wheels that can becontrolled by the first functionality unit (MS).
 7. A construction toyaccording to claims 1-6, characterised in that each of theinterconnectable building elements (BE) has coupling means in the formof protruding studs and corresponding cavities for receiving studs onanother building element (BE).
 8. A construction toy according to claim7, characterised in that the coupling means on the interconnectablebuilding elements (BE) have electrical contact faces with electricalconnection to other parts.